What is "Leaky Gut Syndrome?"

Leaky Gut Syndrome (AKA ~ Increased Intestinal
Permeability) is a very common (often
undiagnosed) condition in which the lining of
the small intestine becomes inflamed. This
inflammation can be caused by many different
things, including the following:

• Alcohol and/or drinks containing
caffeine.

• Overuse of antibiotics resulting in
destruction of the "good" bacteria in the
intestines.

• Foods contaminated by certain bacteria or
parasites. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone,
and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen.

• Consumption of large quantities of
highly refined carbohydrates, (sugar and
processed flour).

Inflammation causes damage to the tissue,
resulting in excess permeability and unusually
large spaces between the cells of the mucosal
lining, which allows bacteria, viruses, fungi
and other potentially toxic materials to enter
the bloodstream. The widened spaces can also
allow undigested food particles to "leak"
through the intestinal lining. This could pose a
serious health risk since these particles may be
considered "foreign" by the body and the immune
system may try to destroy them.

It is the destruction of the "good" bacteria
that leaves the surface of the small intestine
unprotected and subject to inflammation. In
addition, an unfriendly, fungal organism known
as Candida Albicans (Yeast) readily expands into
the area vacated by the beneficial flora.

Candidiasis typically progresses in a very
systematic way. The symptoms escalate in four
stages. First, imbalances begin in the digestive
tract. As the Candida begins to dominate the
intestinal environment, people develop
characteristic symptoms such as heartburn, gas,
bloating, anal itching and vaginitis. As body
defenses weaken, Candida and other fungi can
infect other body areas, causing athlete's foot,
jock itch, skin, ear, and nail infections.
Although yeast cannot invade bodily tissue
directly the way bacteria and viruses can, like
other fungi, it produces root-like structures
that penetrate the lining of the gut. This
damage provides a site for incompletely digested
dietary proteins to enter the bloodstream. The
body sees these proteins as antigens and
responds by developing an allergic reaction to
that particular food. Candida sufferers are
plagued by multiple food sensitivities, a
condition that creates a vicious circle of
immune suppression, further Candida and allergy.

As Candidiasis progresses, yeast cells attach
themselves to mucous membrane surfaces, form a
colony and transform into a fuzzy "mycelium"
(think mold on bread). As their roots penetrate
the tissues, searching for nutrients, the yeast
produce toxins that damage the tissue and cause
inflammation. Any tissue that has been colonized
by yeast will be plagued with
symptoms---vaginitis, diarrhea, heartburn or
"thrush" (yeast in the mouth). Yeast cells can
also show up in the sinuses, ears and eyes.

As the toxic by-products of a yeast infection
circulate through the bloodstream, they can
trigger symptoms in distant parts of the body.
This tissue upset can result in conditions as
diverse as asthma, sinusitis, lupus, PMS and
kidney stones, according to Dr. Ralph Golan,
writing in Optimal Wellness. Symptoms depend on
which organ has been affected by the toxins.
Damage to the brain can cause fuzzy thinking,
while skin damage will cause itching and rashes.

As the immune system becomes compromised, the
body becomes hypersensitive to otherwise benign
levels of such common chemicals as gas fumes,
perfume and pesticides.

The yeast-damaged body becomes so overwhelmed
that it can produce antibodies against its own
tissues, causing conditions like severe PMS.
Along with classic allergy symptoms like hay
fever and hives, as the sufferer becomes more
allergic and chemically sensitive, he/ she can
develop reactions including headache, joint pain
and nausea.

A third set of symptoms occurs when a yeast
infection involves the central nervous system,
and mental symptoms such as headache,
irritability, confusion and lethargy begin.
Finally, in an advanced case of candidiasis the
body develops symptoms of organ and hormone
dysfunction. The most common of these is
hypothyroidism, followed by adrenal failure, but
any organ can be involved. In children, the
symptoms usually start with chronic ear
infections and colic.

What Triggers The Invasion?

Candida truly is a disease of modern life. All
of the factors that aggravate yeast overgrowth
are consequences of modern living. Healthy
people (or pets) do not get yeast infections.
Yeast overgrows for two reasons: Something feeds
it or something suppresses the immune system,
rendering the body incapable of controlling it.

Antibiotics are thought to be the single
greatest contributor to Candida. True,
antibiotics kill unwanted bacteria, such as
those that cause teenage acne, but they also
non-selectively kill the good bacteria in the
digestive tract and vagina, allowing the
antibiotic resistant Candida Albicans to
flourish. Women often develop vaginal yeast
infections after using antibiotics and
frequently trace their first onset of
Candidiasis to a potent course of antibiotics,
often years before. Once Candidiasis develops
and the gut is overgrown with yeast, the body's
colony of beneficial bacteria cannot be
reestablished without treatment.

Yeast also loves sugar. Remember, yeast is used
to ferment sugar in bread and beer. White sugar,
especially, is the perfect yeast food. It also
suppresses immune response, which increases the
likelihood that a yeast infection will spread.
Sugar is not the only dietary culprit: All
carbohydrates feed yeast to a certain extent and
can contribute to episodes of symptoms.

Numerous other circumstances favor yeast
development. Incomplete digestion of
carbohydrates, especially when combined with
diarrhea, brings food to the yeast that inhabit
the large intestine. A number of drugs,
especially cortisone, encourage the growth of
yeast, as does exposure to damaging amounts of
environmental chemicals, such as pesticides.
Allergies, glandular disorders from any source
(including diabetes) and trauma (such as
surgery) also contribute to Candidiasis.

Clearly, none of these factors alone causes
yeast disorder, which is what makes the
condition so elusive. To treat the problem
successfully once yeast has gotten firmly
established, you must "search and destroy" each
of Candida's building blocks one by one.

The Counter-Attack

Candida can be controlled with a multi-pronged
approach aimed at normalizing and strengthening
immune function, killing yeast in the digestive
tract (and other areas it has colonized),
replacing beneficial flora in the intestines and
stabilizing the nutritional status of the body as
a whole.

There are several things you can do to keep the
condition at bay. First is paying attention to
your Diet. Eat whole foods that nourish you--not
the yeast. You knew all along I was going to say
it: No Sugar. The more you minimize simple
carbohydrates in favor of complex carbohydrates,
the better. Most people need to eliminate fruit
for a period of time, and some can't even
tolerate high-starch vegetables like potatoes.

Essentially, the diet that starves yeast while
supporting the immune system avoids sweets,
refined flours and all allergy-producing and
mold-containing foods (if sensitive to them).
Such a diet includes adequate protein, a lot of
fresh vegetables, complex carbohydrates
appropriate to the case and moderate fat and
fruit only as tolerated.

Another thing you can do is to take Supplements.
Many natural medicines work well to control
yeast. One of the most important is "friendly
flora," the bactobacilli that belong in the gut.
Because the yeast has colonized the membranes of
the intestines, large doses of lactobacilli are
necessary to overpower the Candida and replace
its colonies. Use powdered acidophilus from the
refrigerator case. A typical dose is two
tablespoons per day for two weeks. In addition,
you can use five mg of biotin per day or try
Caprylic acid (begin with 200 to 300 mg a day,
working up to 6,000 mg a day after two to three
weeks).

Herbs are also a great defense. Many herbs act
as anti-fungals. Basically, we can separate them
into those that kill yeast directly and those
that control it by supporting the immune system
over time. Some do both.

Getting control of yeast requires a holistic
approach to your total lifestyle. The
world---and our bodies with it---is covered with
yeast, and you will never be able to kill enough
of the fungus to escape it. Only by adjusting
your diet, de-stressing your lifestyle and
supporting your immune system can you conquer
Candida. For this whole-person problem, with a
little discipline, you will find a whole-person
solution.


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Article submitted by Tim Delaney. Reference sites
include Nzymes at http://www.nzymes.com and
Nzymes EU at http://www.nzymes.eu.com


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